Water Treatment

For people who own a home, having all the tools in place to ensure the home is safe for everyone living there is essential. A wide variety of things can be considered critical for the safety of people living in the home, and one of them is residential water quality. Since water usage in a home is used for everything from drinking and cooking to hygiene laundry, having a good quality water supply coming into a home is vital.

Water Quality in Public Water Supplies

Public water supplies in most municipalities come from protected water resources like reservoirs. To protect the public water source, areas around watershed reservoirs usually allow for only nominal human recreation or entirely cut off human recreation usage. The goal is to keep the water supply pure from human or industrial contaminants.

As most people know from the debacle in Flint, Michigan, not all public water supplies are considered safe. In fact, in a recent study of hundreds of American cities, researchers found that there was at least some level of contaminants in almost all public water supplies in the country. Some of the contaminants arrive via the piping systems, which may contain lead; others come from the water purification process to remove impurities.

Lead in public water supplies has been detected in over 2,000 cities nationwide, a serious health concern. However, there is a wide variety of contaminants in public water supplies that can be hazardous to human and animal health. Even excessive chlorine can be dangerous for consumption. While boiling water can eliminate some toxic chemicals and minerals, most people don't boil their water except when using it for drinking and cooking. That leaves people exposed to contaminants when showering, during personal hygiene, and washing dishes.

Municipal Water Filtration Systems

In almost all municipalities, public water supplies go through water treatment facilities to help improve the quality of the water. Most water treatment centers are regional, and when the water comes in from the source, it is tested and treated to clean out dirt and contaminants from the water. In most cases, it is treated with levels of chlorine and fluoride to purify it.

One of the major concerns about water treated with chlorine is that too much of the chlorine is toxic for humans and animals. It can cause a wide variety of health problems, including allergic reactions, liver damage, and even cancer. This type of problem is unique among public water users as the rate of water contaminants for well water is significantly less than municipal water supplies, and well water rarely has any chlorine.

Home Water Filter Systems

While most people who are served by public water supplies cannot simply hook up to well water as an alternative, there are solutions that all homeowners can utilize to get better quality water into their homes. One of the best ways to improve the personal water supply into a home is through a variety of water filtration options such as whole-house water treatment systems.

Most consumers are familiar with countertop water filter systems as well as faucet and shower filtration units. However, not all consumers and homeowners are familiar with whole-house water treatment systems. These water systems filter all the water that enters a home and not just the water at a point of entry, such as a faucet or shower.

Using a whole-house water treatment system, homeowners can significantly reduce their exposure to chlorine, toxic metals such as lead, and dozens of other contaminants in their water supply. These systems ensure all the water entering the home is filtered before it is used in any area of the house.

Getting the Right Water Filtration Unit

Whole-house water filtering systems can last for years and rarely need significant maintenance. However, almost all home water filtration systems have filters that need replacing after a certain number of gallons have gone through the system. They also usually come with a multi-year warranty. There are several different capacity sizes for whole-house filtration systems. The larger units are usually installed for people who have a larger family of five or more and have high water usage.

If you are considering a whole house filtration system for your home's water, getting the right size unit for your usage is essential. Talking with an expert to discern your needs is recommended. This will help avoid the need for an early replacement because your current filter's capacity is insufficient for your needs. Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing in Newburgh. We can help!